Thought and writing on photography

Big splash, rushing water, green forest and cooling stream! Yup, that’s the sound of a get away from the heat of the summer. Tracking along these undulating hills and long hike with heavy equipments was no easy task. But soon, the surprising reward is always at the very end of the road.

The waterfall has always been one of my favorite photography subject. Let alone, traveling and enjoying the dip in that chilling water. Surrounded by tall trees and deep woods, they are just a pleasant moment to spend a day in.

“It is light that reveals, light that obscures, light that communicates. It is light I “listen” to. The light late in the day has a distinct quality, as it fades toward the darkness of evening. After sunset there is a gentle leaving of the light, the air begins to still, and a quiet descends. I see magic in the quiet light of dusk. I feel quiet, yet intense energy in the natural elements of our habitat. A sense of magic prevails. A sense of mystery. It is a time for contemplation, for listening – a time for making photographs.” – John Sexton

I have been in photography for so many years. Yet I am still always being intrigued by the timeless, stillness and mystery of black and white photograph. It’s like a captivating art that captures our attention and draws us into the moods of the image. Looking at it, they always seems to invoke a sense of nostalgia. While the closer we look into the details, it just takes us into the mystery of the nature…

“I found that photography was a great way of relaxing on the set.”– Jeff Bridges

“With photography a new language has been created. Now for the first time it is possible to express reality by reality. We can look at an impression as long as we wish, we can delve into it and, so to speak, renew past experiences at will.” – Ernst Haas

“Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution.” – Ansel Adams

“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” – Ansel Adams

“It’s amazing how you can create your own little world in the camera.” – Trevor Dayley

“Photography to me is catching a moment which is passing, and which is true.” – Jacques henri Lartigue

“Photography is a small voice, at best, but sometimes one photograph, or a group of them, can lure our sense of awareness.” – W. Eugene Smith

“If the vision is strong enough, and your goals are steady, and you believe, pretty soon you bring other people with you.” – Mike Rounds

“Every image he sees, every photograph he takes, becomes in a sense a self-portrait. The portrait is made more meaningful by intimacy—an intimacy shared not only by the photographer with his subject but by the audience.” – Dorothea Lange

“All art is a vision penetrating the illusions of reality, and photography is one form of this vision and revelation.” – Ansel Adams.

“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.” – Ansel Adams

“For me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

“The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a Witness ” – Yann Arthus-Bertrand

“I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure. My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.” – Diane Arbus

“The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don’t have to explain things with words.” – Elliott Erwitt

“In the world of photography, you get to share a captured moment with other people.” – James Wilson

“Photography is about finding out what can happen in the frame. When you put four edges around some facts, you change those facts.” – Garry Winogrand

“ Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.” – Imogen Cunningham

Recently I had an opportunity to revisit the Shanghai World Financial Tower again with a friend who have just arrived from LA. It always feels great to be able to see existing buildings with new perspectives. Furthermore, with the new tower being built recently, this adds even more impactful feeling of the space when walking along the square. These are some photos in color.

Japan, is one of the places which I would like to return again for another trip to explore the landscape and its’ culture. It always gives me an impression of tranquility, peace and harmony. The culture has a distinctive artful, yet creative way of lifestyle. From their fashion, architecture, food and even the landscape. I had a chance to visit Hakone few years ago to learn the craft of their traditional garden. Which to me, was a new way of experience and amazement at how delicate and skillful their dedication can be. Below, I have put in a series of photographs to share with you, my experience and the vision that I encountered.

“Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution.” – Ansel Adams

“If you see something that moves you, and then snap it, you keep a moment.” – Linda McCartney

“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.” – Dorothea Lange

“To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

“A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.” – Eudora Welty

“Photography can only represent the present. Once photographed, the subject becomes part of the past.” – Berenice Abbott

“Photography to me is catching a moment which is passing, and which is true.” – Jacques henri Lartigue

“With photography a new language has been created. Now for the first time it is possible to express reality by reality. We can look at an impression as long as we wish, we can delve into it and, so to speak, renew past experiences at will.” – Ernst Haas

“As I have practiced it, photography produces pleasure by simplicity. I see something special and show it to the camera. A picture is produced. The moment is held until someone sees it. Then it is theirs.” – Sam Abell

“Documentary photography is the presentation or representation of actual fact in a way that makes it credible and vivid to an audience at the time.” – David Hurn

“The “moment” in landscape photography is when you know that you have captured the definite photo that sums up your whole trip.” – Paul Chong

“Photography is a magical kind of art that allows people to preserve time and moments, and to describe the world the way they see it.” – Sahara Sanders

“All photographers have to do, is find and catch the story-telling moment.” – Alfred Eisenstaedt

Dear friends, finally the Photo Independent Art Fair is here! Just two more days to go after months of preparation. It will be a very exciting event to have so many photographers exhibiting their work. This will be my first time heading to LA, with hope that there will be more to come. None the less, if you will be there, feel free to drop by for a visit. My booth number is 410 in stage 7. I’ll be delighted to meet with you. You can find out more about the event and ticketing at www.photoindependent.com